The midsized MPV segment in Europe continues to shrink in 2016, with sales down 3% for the full year and down an even more painful 7% in Q4. In both periods, 7 models of the top-10 lost volume and in Q4 six of those did that with double digits. The top of the ranking is completely reshuffled from 2015 as the former numbers 1, 2 and 3 are now down to 2nd, 6th and 4th place. The Volkswagen Touran took the lead of the segment for the first time ever in Q3 and held on to it for the full year. This is the first time ever that a French car does not lead the midsized MPV segment, as the Citroën C4 Picasso loses 4% and the Renault Scenic is the biggest loser of the remaining models in the segment as its new generation is about to hit showrooms. As a result, we now find an MPV from a luxury brand on the podium for the first time ever: the BMW 2-Series Active and Gran Tourer.

Sales of midsized MPVs have been very stable in recent years, without any big growth or contraction. In the first half of 2016, sales increased 1% but in Q3 the segment suddenly lost 8% of its volume and is now down 2% year-to-date. Another big shock is the crowning of a new leader of the segment, which has been dominated by the French since Renault launched the first generation (Megane) Scenic in 1996. The Scenic and Citroën C4 Picasso have alternated as segment leaders in recent years, but this quarter the new generation Volkswagen Touran has claimed the year-to-date top spot and looks set to hold on to it until the end of the year, which would be a first time ever for the nameplate. Volkswagen now dominates 4 out of 7 mainstream car and MPV segments. In third place we find yet another German: the BMW 2-Series Active/Gran Tourer, the best selling luxury MPV in Europe.

The midsized MPV segment in Europe has been very stable in volume for the past couple of years, alternating single digit growth and contraction, and continues that stability in the first half of 2016 with sales up just one percent. That still compares negatively to the overall market, which grew by 8,8% in the same period. Individual model sales are much less stable, with a few big winners and one big loser in the segment. The leader is unchanged for now, as the Citroën C4 Picasso actually gains share with a 5% increase, but it’s under heavy pressure from the new generation Volkswagen Touran, which is up 37% on its previous generation last year and outsold the Picasso by 150 units in Q2. If the Touran manages to grab the segment title by year-end, that would be the first time for the model, whose highest ranking so far has been a 2nd place in 2004 when the first generation was still fresh. The biggest winner in the first half is the BMW 2-Series Active/Grand Tourer, adding 56% to its volume of last year, when the 7-seater was not yet available and the Active Tourer was still in start-up mode. A third place in the segment is nonetheless an impressive performance for the premium-priced model from a brand that has had no offering in the segment before.

Sales of midsized MPVs in Europe have been relatively stable in the last couple of years, alternation single digit growth and contraction, and the first quarter of 2016 is no different with sales down just one percent. That still compares negatively to the overall market, which grew by 8% in the same period. There is quite a shuffle in the ranking as a number of models has just been renewed while others are about to be renewed soon. The segment leader remains unchanged, as the Citroën C4 Picasso adds 4% to its volume and consolidates its position as last year’s challengers Renault Scenic and Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan lose 30% and 15% respectively and are out of the top-4. The Scenic will be replaced in the second half of this year, while the Sportsvan is probably cannibalized by the new generation Touran, which replaces them on the podium together with the BMW 2-series Active Tourer. The 2-series is the fastest growing model in the segment and even grabbed 2nd place in March at less than 400 units behind the Picasso, so it remains a force to be reckoned with this year.

Sales of Midsized MPVs in Europe are up 4% to 906.300 in 2015, but that’s mostly thanks to two new models as all others in the top-10 lose volume and only 4 out of 18 models actually improve on their 2014 score. The French still lead this segment as their home country is the biggest market in Europe for this type of vehicle. The Citroën C4 Picasso and Renault Scenic, including their Grand versions, have now been joined by the Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan to make it three models with sales over 100.000 units. The Sportsvan is up 75% on its first partial year of sales, but doesn’t set is not a record for the brand, as its predecessor Golf Plus sold more than this in 2005, 2006 and 2009.

The midsized MPV segment in Europe goes deeper into a sales slump in Q3 of 2015, with sales down 8,7% in the quarter and now -4% year-to-date. In the first three quarters of this year, only two models in the top-10 show improve on their volume from last year. As opposed to most other segments, there’s an actual battle for the top spot between midsized MPVs this year, with the Citroën C4 Picasso reclaiming the lead after losing it to the Renault Scenic in Q2, but the Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan isn’t far behind either, and it was the best selling model in Q3. If all three continue like this in the last quarter, the Scenic will drop to the bottom step of the podium, which isn’t very surprising when you consider it’s about to be replaced early next year.

The Golf Sportsvan is cannibalizing the aging VW Touran somewhat, as that model dropped to 7th place of the segment in Q3 and 5th place year-to-date as the Ford C-Max took advantage of its weak rival by outselling the Touran by a 2:1 ratio in Q3. If the VW keeps struggling like this from the slow changeover to the new generation Touran, the Peugeot 3008 may reappear into the top-5 by the end of its seventh year on the market. The 3008 is leaving the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira clearly behind so far, which is the surviving model that’s going down the fastest, losing almost a third of its volume on last year. [Read more…]

Sales of midsized MPVs in Europe are down 1% in the first half of 2015, after increasing by that same 1% in Q1. The ever-increasing popularity of crossovers may have something to do with that, as it does with small crossovers vs. small MPVs. However, the model that suffers the most from a sales slowdown in Q2 doesn’t have an in-house crossover competitor: the Citroën C4 Picasso. In fact, the Picasso loses its pole position of the segment to its main rival, the Renault Scenic, despite the latter being 4 years older and due to be replaced next year, as well as having gotten some in-house competition from the already successful Kadjar crossover.

Volkswagen occupies the next two spots with the still fresh Golf Sportsvan now firmly ahead of the soon-to-be replaced Touran, making VW the biggest brand in the class. The Ford C-Max and Peugeot 3008 maintain their positions above the Opel/Vauxhall Zafira, which is the biggest loser of the segment at -35%. [Read more…]

The midsized MPV segment is one of the most stable of the market in recent years: after declining just 2% in 2014, sales of midsized MPVs are up by a mere 1% again in the first quarter of 2015.

With Q1 sales down 10%, the Citroën C4 Picasso barely holds on to its first position, while it hasn’t led the segment in any of the three months. The Renault Scenic trails by less than 300 units after being the segment best seller in Febuary and March, and will be completely renewed by the end of this year. The all-new Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan is less than 1.700 units behind the C4 Picasso in third place, after being the segment leader by a large margin in January.

The Sportsvan improves massively on the sales of its predecessor Golf Plus, which was in run-out mode last year. However, in 2006, its first full year on the market, the Golf Plus sold more than 128.000 units in Europe, a figure the Sportsvan won’t reach at the current selling rate. But then again, the segment has become more populated since, and those 128.000 units were only half of what the Scenic sold that year, while both models aren’t separated by much this year [Read more…]

The European midsized MPV segment has been shaken up this year, although a 2% overall drop in sales doesn’t fully reflect the fierce competition between some of the top sellers.

Excluding the newly arrived VW Golf Sportsvan, only three other models manage to improve their sales, of which one by less than 50 units. Big winner is the Citroën C4 Picasso/Grand Picasso, adding over 30.000 units and stealing the leadership from the Renault Scenic/Grand Scenic for only the second time since the latter created the segment almost 2 decades ago. With a new generation Scenic not due in showrooms until 2016, Citroën has a shot of making it two in a row. However, there’s a new challenger in the segment, which has made a thunderous arrival. Replacing the aging VW Golf Plus which never has ranked higher than 5th in the segment, the Golf Sportsvan boldly took first place in four of the last five months of the year, signaling it has its sights set on the segment leadership in 2015, even without a 7-seater option, which is reserved for the aging Volkswagen Touran. [Read more…]

Sales of midsized MPVs in Europe are down less than 6.000 units, or 1% on the first three quarters of last year. Only three models increase their sales more than 2%, including one all-new model, while the rest either loses ground or stays virtually stable.

The Citroën C4 (Grand) Picasso continues its strong performance, now grabbing 15,6% of the segment and extending its lead over the traditional leader Renault (Grand) Scenic. If the Picasso holds on to its lead until the end of the year, it would be only the second time ever that the Scenic doesn’t lead the segment it invented in 1996. In 2008 it was also Citroën who kicked the Scenic down. However, the French may have a battle on their own turf next year, as the recently introduced Volkswagen Golf Sportsvan was the best selling midsized MPV in September. Despite having half as many selling days as the rest of the segment, the Sportsvan has already moved in to 7th place of the segment and doesn’t seem to take any prisoners. [Read more…]